Biography
Born Angela Grant on November 24th as one of five siblings, the Columbus, GA native performed regularly in both her church choir and school ensembles during childhood. A demo she recorded reached the renowned production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, leading to a 1997 signing with their Flyte Tyme Records imprint. The first single to emerge, “Lil’ Red Boat,” appeared in May 1998.
Grant’s self-titled debut arrived on July 2 of that year, marking the inaugural release on Flyte Tyme through its Uptown/Universal distribution deal. Contributions from frequent Jam & Lewis associate Big Jim Wright, Alex Richbourg, bassist Paul Johnson, and Stevie Wonder helped shape an impressive opening statement for both the artist and the new label. The set blends nostalgic and wide-ranging influences while letting Grant’s personality surface; she collaborated on every track with the producers and Wright. At moments her voice evokes Janet Jackson, another former Jam & Lewis charge, and, much like Jackson’s Control, the album sustains interest from start to finish. Its cohesive, organic character stems from the deliberate absence of silent gaps between songs, allowing the material to segue both sonically and thematically.
Beyond the producers’ characteristically robust melodies, the lyrics remain upbeat and lighthearted, as in the “Knockin’” line “The lights are on but there’s nobody home/He’s dumb, but he’s cute/He’s dumb, but he’s so cute.” Everyone involved aimed to craft a unified album rather than a mere sequence of singles. Among the highlights are the leadoff “Hey You,” the gently swaying “Kisses Luv Lips” (echoing Patrice Rushen and Roy Ayers), the reflective “Illusions” and “Deeper,” the self-empowerment rocker “Anyway” driven by electric guitar and featuring the line “Mama told me never to give a man more respect than I give to myself/and if I hang with losers I’ll never win,” the hesitant “Well, Okay, I’ll Say It (I’m ’N Luv With U)” buoyed by Stevie Wonder’s wistful harmonica, the tender “Whenever You Cry,” “Live Your Life,” and the string-laden closer “I Love You.”
By winter 1999 the “Big Jim Mix” of “Lil’ Red Boat,” taken from the twelve-inch, had become a staple among Chicago steppers and similar regional scenes. Still based in Minnesota, Grant is no longer affiliated with Flyte Tyme yet continues to work in the arts.
Grant’s self-titled debut arrived on July 2 of that year, marking the inaugural release on Flyte Tyme through its Uptown/Universal distribution deal. Contributions from frequent Jam & Lewis associate Big Jim Wright, Alex Richbourg, bassist Paul Johnson, and Stevie Wonder helped shape an impressive opening statement for both the artist and the new label. The set blends nostalgic and wide-ranging influences while letting Grant’s personality surface; she collaborated on every track with the producers and Wright. At moments her voice evokes Janet Jackson, another former Jam & Lewis charge, and, much like Jackson’s Control, the album sustains interest from start to finish. Its cohesive, organic character stems from the deliberate absence of silent gaps between songs, allowing the material to segue both sonically and thematically.
Beyond the producers’ characteristically robust melodies, the lyrics remain upbeat and lighthearted, as in the “Knockin’” line “The lights are on but there’s nobody home/He’s dumb, but he’s cute/He’s dumb, but he’s so cute.” Everyone involved aimed to craft a unified album rather than a mere sequence of singles. Among the highlights are the leadoff “Hey You,” the gently swaying “Kisses Luv Lips” (echoing Patrice Rushen and Roy Ayers), the reflective “Illusions” and “Deeper,” the self-empowerment rocker “Anyway” driven by electric guitar and featuring the line “Mama told me never to give a man more respect than I give to myself/and if I hang with losers I’ll never win,” the hesitant “Well, Okay, I’ll Say It (I’m ’N Luv With U)” buoyed by Stevie Wonder’s wistful harmonica, the tender “Whenever You Cry,” “Live Your Life,” and the string-laden closer “I Love You.”
By winter 1999 the “Big Jim Mix” of “Lil’ Red Boat,” taken from the twelve-inch, had become a staple among Chicago steppers and similar regional scenes. Still based in Minnesota, Grant is no longer affiliated with Flyte Tyme yet continues to work in the arts.
Albums
